The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has called for respect for the clergy’s right to voice their opinions amidst rising tensions between the church and President William Ruto’s government.
Her comments come in response to the backlash directed at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) after they criticized the administration.
Speaking on Friday, Maina emphasized that the church, like all citizens, is entitled to freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, particularly in Articles 32 and 33, which protect freedom of religion and opinion.
“When the church initially stated that this government was God-ordained, those now attacking it were in agreement. Let them accept the current criticism in good faith; the church has a right to speak its mind under Articles 32 and 33 of the Constitution. Let them express their views without undue political hostility,” she said.
The conflict began when the KCCB issued a sharp rebuke of the Ruto administration, accusing it of fostering a culture of lies, corruption, broken promises, and poor priorities.
Led by Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of Kisumu, the bishops criticized the government for ignoring pressing issues raised by ordinary Kenyans, such as high taxes, unemployment, problems with the implementation of the CBC education system, and concerns over the transition from NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA). They lamented that the government had not adequately addressed these concerns, fueling public dissatisfaction.
In response, government officials, including Cabinet Secretaries Deborah Mulongo (Health) and Migos Ogamba (Education), as well as Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, dismissed the bishops’ claims, labeling them as inaccurate and misleading.
President Ruto also addressed the issue subtly during a graduation ceremony at Tangaza University in Nairobi on Friday. He urged leaders, clergy, and the public to stick to the facts in their discussions, cautioning that “people can become victims of the things they accuse others of doing.”
“Even as we engage in public discourse on matters that are important to the people of Kenya, we must be careful to be factual, lest we become victims of the very things we accuse others of,” Ruto stated.
